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Big Trouble for Little Marco

Posted October 21, 2016

President Obama Slams Rubio’s Spineless Opportunism

Yesterday, President Obama slammed Marco Rubio's blatant opportunism and spineless support of Donald Trump at a campaign rally for Hillary Clinton and Patrick Murphy in Rubio's hometown of Miami. As the President said, Floridians deserve better than a self-interested Senator who “will say anything, do anything, pretend to be anybody, just to get elected.”

Here are some of the headlines Floridians are reading today:

Tampa Bay Times: Obama rips Rubio in Miami: "'You know what that is? It is the height of cynicism. That's the sign of somebody who will say anything, do anything, pretend to be anybody, just to get elected. And you know what? If you're willing to be anybody just to be somebody, then you don’t have the leadership that Florida needs in the U.S. Senate. ... That’s why you've got to vote for Patrick Murphy. That’s why you’ve got to vote for Hillary Clinton.'”

Time: President Obama Blasts Marco Rubio and GOPers for Supporting Donald Trump: ‘Come On, Man!’: “President Obama lambasted Marco Rubio on his home turf on Thursday, slamming the Senator who ran against Donald Trump in the primary, yet later endorsed his controversial candidacy. ‘Donald Trump wants to reverse progress,’ Obama told the crowd at Florida Memorial University. ‘Marco Rubio wants to help him.’”

Palm Beach Post: Can Barack Obama and Donald Trump put Patrick Murphy in the Senate?: “Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy’s effort to unseat Republican Sen. Marco Rubio got a boost Thursday from President Barack Obama, who visited Florida Memorial University to promote Hillary Clinton for president but ended up spending nearly as much time touting Murphy and ripping Rubio….With less than three weeks until election day, it was a sign Democrats believe not only that they can win the presidency but make gains in the Senate and House by tying Republicans to Donald Trump and the controversies that surround him.”

New York Times: Widening Attack on G.O.P., Obama Targets Marco Rubio in Florida: “President Obama joined a parade of Democrats on Thursday in rebuking Donald J. Trump for threatening not to abide by the results of the election. But he saved his thorniest barbs for Senator Marco Rubio, the Florida Republican who endorsed Mr. Trump after labeling him a “dangerous con artist” during their bitter primary battle.”

Talking Points Memo: Obama Roasts Rubio: You Call Trump A 'Con Artist' But You'll Vote For Him?: “President Barack Obama read Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), and, by proxy, the entire Republican Party, the riot act on Thursday for supporting Donald Trump despite previously condemning him…. ‘Trump didn't come out of nowhere,’ he said, citing the rise of Republican politicians and far-right news outlets who have promoted conspiracy theories like birtherism, the long-refuted claim that Obama was not born in the United States. ‘They've been saying crazy stuff, and there are a lot of politicians like Marco Rubio who know better, but they just look the other way,’ he said.”

The Week: President Obama just eviscerated Marco Rubio with a single line: Obama sandwiched his case against Donald Trump with dings at Rubio, telling the assembled crowd that Rubio once called Trump — a candidate he is planning to vote for — a ‘con artist’ and an ‘erratic individual’ who shouldn't be trusted with the nuclear codes.”

The Hill: Obama slams Rubio for Trump support: “President Obama on Thursday slammed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and other GOP lawmakers for continuing to support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Obama noted that Rubio called Trump a ‘con artist’ while the two were battling it out in the GOP primaries.”

Sun Sentinel: President blasts Trump, Rubio in South Florida speech: "’Donald Trump has nothing to offer but anger and grievance and blame. And so his closing argument asks what do you have to lose? Well, I'm here to tell you: everything,’ Obama said. ’Donald Trump wants to reverse progress. Marco Rubio wants to help him. You want to give me a good sendoff? You want to give Michelle a good sendoff? Work as hard for Hillary and Patrick as you did for us.’"

Palm Beach Post: Obama focus on Murphy at Clinton rally displays growing Dem confidence: “‘We also have to have outstanding members of Congress, like Patrick Murphy. When he’s your United States senator, he’s going to be doing his work. Unlike his opponent, he actually shows up to work,’ Obama said.”

Washington Post: In Florida, Obama blasts Rubio’s ‘cynicism’ in supporting Trump: ‘C’mon, man': “He returned to the subject a few minutes later, noting that Rubio had said during the Republican primaries that Trump was unfit to handle the country’s nuclear codes and was a con man. ‘Why does Marco Rubio still plan to vote for Donald Trump? Why does he support Donald Trump?’ Obama asked.”

Politico: Obama mocks Marco in Miami: “President Barack Obama came to Sen. Marco Rubio’s home turf Thursday to taunt him for supporting Donald Trump, who the senator trashed when he ran against his fellow Republican during the GOP primary campaign for president.”

Miami Herald: Murphy emphasizes working families in speech at Miami Gardens rally: “After Obama took the stage at about 4:15 p.m., he mentioned Murphy at least a half-dozen times, heralding him as "your next United States senator" and heavily criticizing Rubio.”

MSNBC: After taking some shots from Rubio, Obama returns the favor: “Yesterday, Obama traveled to Miami, where the president was able to fire back at Rubio, reminding voters that the senator is supporting Donald Trump’s campaign, despite Rubio’s previous insistence that Trump is a ‘con artist’ and ‘dangerous.’”

ABC News: Obama: Trump 'Dangerous' for Suggesting He Won't Concede: “The president also used the Florida appearance to criticize Sen. Marco Rubio, saying Rubio's continued support for Trump makes him unworthy of re-election. He urged Florida voters to send Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy to the Senate instead…. The senator has said he supports Trump's bid for the White House, despite their policy disagreements and recent accusations that Trump has been sexually aggressive toward women, because he doesn't want Clinton to be president. Obama said such reasoning shows that Rubio cares only about himself.”

CBS Miami: Obama Touts Healthcare, Hillary During Talks In Miami: “The president wasn’t done with South Florida, however, and headed north to Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens to campaign for Hillary Clinton and Rep. Patrick Murphy for Senate.”

Roll Call: Obama Calls Trump Threat ‘Dangerous,’ Hits Rubio Hard: “But much of Obama’s speech, and most of his hardest punches, came at Rubio’s expense. The president cast Rubio’s opponent, Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy, as putting Floridians’ best interests ahead of his own career ambitions — unlike Rubio…. “‘Unlike his opponent, he actually shows up to work,’ Obama said of Murphy. ‘Marco just seems to care about hanging onto his job,” Obama said. “Patrick Murphy cares about you.’”

Huffington Post: Barack Obama Calls Out Marco Rubio For Continuing To Support Donald Trump: “Obama went on to point out the various conspiracy theories hard-line conservatives pushed for years ― birtherism, calling climate change a hoax ― and how Republicans like Rubio have failed to stand up to such rhetoric.”

Salon: President Obama skewers Marco Rubio for supporting Donald Trump: “How can you call him a con artist” then vote for him?: “President Obama blasted Sen. Marco Rubio for his willingness to vote for Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Florida Memorial University on Thursday”

Miami Herald: Obama in Miami: Trashing Trump, ripping Rubio: “‘Patrick Murphy, when he is your United States senator, he is going to be doing his work. In fact, unlike his opponent, he shows up to work,’ Obama said. ‘Unlike his opponent, he didn’t walk away from Florida’s Hispanic community when the politics got tough: He fought for comprehensive immigration reform and a path of citizenship. Unlike his opponent, Patrick actually believes in science and the effects of climate change.’Just the other night in the debate, Marco Rubio did not accept that sea level’s rising. If you are watching TV or you are going down some of the blocks right here in Miami, in the middle of a sunny day you see ocean coming up through streets. How can you deny what is right in front of you?’”

CBS News: Clinton campaign amps up star power in battleground states: “Stumping for Clinton in Miami, President Obama waded into the Florida Senate race as well, calling out Sen. Marco Rubio for his continued support of Trump. ‘How can you call him a con artist and dangerous,’ the president told a crowd in Miami Gardens, ‘then say ‘but I’m still going to vote for him?’”

MediaIte: Obama Trashes Republicans Over Trump-Boosting, Singles Out Rubio: ‘Come On, Man!’: “He trashed the Florida Republican for committing to vote for Trump despite calling him a dangerous con man who can’t be trusted with nuclear weapons (comments Rubio never really took back, by the way).”

WUSF: Obama Emphasizes Continuity At Rally In Miami Gardens: "’Progress doesn't stop with my presidency. We are just starting,’ said Obama to the crowd gathered in Miami Gardens. ‘But all that progress is at stake if we don't do things right in this election.’ And if there was any doubt about what, in Obama's eyes, is the right course of action, he said: "Donald Trump wants to reverse progress. Marco Rubio wants to help.’"